Farm-gate



(NmModeL) H. A. BENEPIEL.

FARM GATE.

Patented May 5,1891.

UNITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

HARRY A. BENEFIEL, OF JEFFERSON, BOONE COUNTY, ASSIGNOR OETWO- THIRDS TO ARTHUR E. MARTIN, OF GASON, AND LEONARD V. PETERSON,

OF LEBANON, INDIANA.

FARM-GAT E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters IPatent No. 451,886, dated May 5, 1891,

Application filed December 1'7 1890. Serial No. 874.999- (N0 model.) I

To all whom itmay concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRY A. BENEFIEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jefferson township, in the county of Boone and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Farm-Gates; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, refei'ence being had to the annexed drawings,

making a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawings presents a perspective view of my improved gate with the several gate-posts in position and the cords for operating the gate; Fig. 2, a detail plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the lever-arms upon the rear end of the gate and their connections; Fig. 3, a side elevation of the inner end of the gate and gate-post; Fig. 4, an inner side view of the gate-post, showing the keeper and means for holding the latch engaged therewith.

The present invention has relation to that class of farm-gates that may be operated by a person seated in a vehicle or on horseback from either side of the gate by means of cords extending to posts in the ground upon either side of the gate, and which extend over pulleys and hang down within reach of the person, whereby the gate may be opened or closed by pulling down on said cords.

It is the object of the invention materially to improve this class of gates by rendering its operation easy and certain and by making provision against the gates being raised and swung open by horses or cattle, or hogs rooting under the gate when closed. These several objects above referred to are the purpose of the present invention, which objects are attained by the construction substantially as shown in the drawings, and hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents the gate suitably hinged to the inner gate-post B, said gate being of any suitable construction, but preferably of rods extending horizontally through the ends of the gateframe and a diagonal brace-rod, the rods having heads at one end and screw-threaded at the other to receive nuts. The gate, however,

may be variously modified in its details of construction, as found desirable, to secure both strength and durability.

The gate A at its rear end has lever-arms O, and to the extremity of said arms are donble pulleys a I), connected to the upper side of the lever-arms, and cords D E pass between the double pulleys and extend along at right angles to the gate to suitable posts F G, whence they pass over pulleys c, which depend from arms 01 on the posts. These cords have suitable hand-grasps or handles (2, and the ends of the cords extend down'within reach of a person in a vehicle or on horseback, so that by pulling thereon the gate will be swung open and closed by pulling down on the opposite cord. The gate is held open as long as required by the latch H engaging with keepers f on posts I J, one upon each side of the gate, and the latch is released from the keeper by pulling down on the cord after passing through the gate-opening.

Connecting with the cords D E is a cord K, which passes between double pulleys g h, located between the lever-arms O and connected to a transverse brace i, said brace having a suitable spring M connected thereto, the opposite end of said spring being attached to the upper end of the gate-post B, thereby assisting the gate to swing closed and retaining the same in its normal position with relation to the post L. The latch l-I passes through a slot in the guide-brace 7s, and also through a slot in the end of the gate, and pins Z on project from the side of the latch to limit its movement in either direction. A suitable springo connects the latch with the central brace 19 of the gate to force it forward after being released by the cord K, the spring M automatically closing the gate when the latch has been disengaged from the keeper f on one of the posts I J. The double pulleys, in place of single pulleys, are deemed of material importance in connection with the other features of the invention, as the cords are always retained in operating contact with the same, and thus rendering the operation of opening the gate much easier.

In order to prevent the gate being raised and the latch disengaged from the keeper and the gate opened by the cows with their horns, 'or by other animals, or by the hogs rooting under the gate and raising it, I have provided means for securely holding the latch in engagement with the keeper N upon the post L. The means employed is a pivoted locking-bar O, the same being pivoted in a flaring mortise r in the post, so that it can be brought to an angle to a perpendicular,when the end of the latch H strikes it, and allow the latch to pass by it to seat itself between the vertical portions of the springs P P, secured to the outer ends of the inclined faces of the keeper N, as seen in Fig. 4:, the said keeper being provided with vertical recesses for the reception of the free ends of said vertical portions, as seen in Fig. 4. It will be seen that should any attempt be made by the animal to raise the gate the locking-bar 0 would prevent it, as the latch, when in engagement with the keeper, is directly under the bar and on line therewith, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 4.

Having now fully described my invention, WhatI claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters, Patent, is

1. The combination, with a swinging gate and suitable cords for operating it, of leverarms connected to the gate and provided upon their ends with double pulleys, a brace between the lever-arms, also provided with pulleys and connecting with the gate-latch.

for operating it, the spring connecting the latch with the gate, and the pins Z m, projecting laterally from the latch to limit its movement in both directions, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A swinging gate provided with lever-arms having double pulleys, a spring connecting said arms with the inner one of the gate-posts, and cords passing between said pulleys and connecting with the gate-latch, in combination with a keeper for the latch having inclined faces and mortises and springs connected thereto, with their free ends engaging the mortises, and a swinging locking-bar pivoted in a mortise in the post, with its free end above and between the free ends of the springs, to prevent the gates being accident ally raised by retaining the latch in engagement with the keeper, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

HARRY A. BENEFIEL.

Witnesses:

F. M. SWAILs, I. M. KELSEY. 

